In addition to representing victims of mesothelioma, the attorneys at Richardson, Patrick, Westbrook & Brickman have represented hundreds of building owners nation-wide in asbestos cost recovery actions against the manufacturers of asbestos-containing products, including W.R. Grace. RPWB has taken a leadership role in the litigation involving asbestos-contaminated Zonolite Attic Insulation (ZAI). As a result of their experience and expertise, Ed Westbrook and RPWB were appointed as "Lead Special Counsel" by the bankruptcy Court to prosecute a "Science Trial" on behalf of homeowners with ZAI.
ZAI was a vermiculite material that was sold in bags and poured between attic joists and into wall cavities. From the 1920s to 1984, ZAI was manufactured and sold by W.R. Grace and its predecessor, Zonolite Corporation, in the United States and Canada. ZAI was manufactured with asbestos-contaminated vermiculite mined and milled in Libby, Montana. As a result, the product is contaminated with varying amounts of amphibole asbestos. Studies have shown that very slight disturbance of ZAI can result in asbestos fibers becoming airborne and contaminating portions of the home.
EPA has recently launched a national consumer awareness campaign to provide homeowners with important information on vermiculite attic insulation. If you have vermiculite attic insulation, EPA strongly recommends the following:
DO NOT DISTURB IT. Any disturbance has the potential to release asbestos fibers into the air. Limiting the number of trips you make to your attic and shortening the length of those trips can help limit your potential exposure. EPA and ATSDR strongly recommend that:
- Vermiculite insulation be left undisturbed in your attic. Due to the uncertainties with existing testing techniques, it is best to assume that the material may contain asbestos.
- You should not store boxes or other items in your attic if retrieving the material will disturb the insulation.
- Children should not be allowed to play in an attic with open areas of vermiculite insulation.
- If you plan to remodel or conduct renovations that would disturb the vermiculite, hire professionals trained and certified to handle asbestos to safely remove the material.
- You should never attempt to remove the insulation yourself. Hire professionals trained and certified to safely remove the material.
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contact us with any questions or if you'd like to explore your legal rights.
